-john bouchard



(No Model.)

J. BOUGHARD.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD TRAGKS.

No. 399,007. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

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JOHN IlOUCHARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE II. IVEBSTER, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed October 21, 1887.

Tea]! who/1t it may cancer/r.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BOUCHARD, a citizen of the ['nitcd States, residing at Chicago,

which is fully set forth in the following spccilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a construction embodyin my invention; Fig. 2, a plan sectional view of the same, taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. i; Fig. 3, a transversesectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.1 and looking inthe direction of the arrow, and Fig. 4 a detail plan view of the notched iiangc which serves to lock the operating-lever.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawings. 7

My invention relates to switches for butchers tracks or other single-rail overhead tracks, and has for its object to provide a switch by means of which a single line of track, which I will term the main line, may be connected, as desired, with any one of a series of other tracks, so as to form a continuous track therewith.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents the ceiling, overhead beam, or other part from which the track is suspended, and B the hangers attached thereto and supporting the track.

0 represents the single line of track, which I will term the mainline, and G and C the branch lines to which it is desired to connect the same. In the present instance I have shown two of these branch lines; butit is obvious that their number may be increased, as desired, or as the circumstances of the case require. The general construction of these tracks and of the trucks which travel thereon is well known and needs no extended description here, it being only necessary to state that they may be of any approved construction for the purpose.

D represents the switch-rail, which is connected at one end to the main track 0 by any Patent No. 399,007, dated March 5, 1889.

Serial No. 253,039. (No model.)

suitableforni of flexible j oint orconnection. In the presentinstancel have shown ahin geoint, (Z, as employed at this point; but any other suitable form of flexible joint may be substituted therefor; or the elasticity of the switchrail may be relied upon and the actual hingejoint dispensed with.

E represents a support depending from the ceiling A and furnishing a bearingi'orarockshaft, I which is mounted therein. The rock-shaft F provided with an arm or crank,

' f, secured thereon and pivoted at its free end,

as shown at f to a slide, F, connected to the switch-rail D. Preferably this connection is eitected by slotting the switch-rail, as shown at d, and connecting the slide 1*" thereto by means of boltsf passing through the slots and slide. The rock-shaft F is also provided with an arm, F attached thereto at or near its upper end, and this arm is connected to a depending lever, G, which extends downward within convenient reach of the operator. The connection between the lever G and the arm F is preferably effected by providing a slot, g, in the said lever and extending the end of the arm through the said slot. The lever G is pivoted upon a standard or support, II, provided with a notched flange, 72, with the notches of which thelever G may be engaged, in order to lock the switch-rail in position.

The operation of my improved switch is as follows: Vv'hen the parts are in the position shown in full lines in the drawings, the switch rail D connects the main track 0 with the branch track C \Vhen it is desired to connect the main track with the branch track 0, it is only necessary to move the lever G slightly outward to disengage it from the notch of the flange h and swingit over until the switchrail D is brought into position with its free end in line with the track C. This movement of the switch-rail is effected through the medium of the rockshaft and its arm in an obvious manner, and when the operation is complete the parts will assume the position 9 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It will be seen that I provide an extremely simple and effective switch, which may be readily operated from the floor of the establishment, and may be instantly shifted to bring the switch-rail accurately into the desired position. The construction of the apparatus is, moreover, extremelysimple, cheap, and strong, and dispenses with a large number of complicated and expensive parts heretofore employed in apparatus of this description.

As hereinbefore stated, the switch-rail may either be connected to the endot' the main rail. by any suitable form of pivot or hinged joint or it may be secured permanently at its end to the main rail or made in. one piece with the said main rail. In this latter case, the flexibility or elasticity of the metal from which the switch-rail is constructed is relied upon to permit the swinging of the said switchrail. In practice I have employed both forms of connection and find that both of them are successful in use. In order to indicate the nature of this connection, which may be either pivotal or flexible, as described, I have employed the terms flexible joint and flexibly connected to indicate either or both of these connections.

It is obvious that various modi fications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the precise details. hereinbefore described, and shown in the drawings.

Having thus deseribt (I my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The comlirination, with the main and branch rails, of the switch-rail arranged between the same and having one of its ends flexibly connected to the end of the main rail, the rock-shaft provided with a crank-arm attached to the switch-rail by a sliding connection, the operating-lever, and a second crankarm on the rock-shaft connected to said operating-lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the main and branch rails, of the switch-rail arranged between the same and having one of its ends flexibly connected to the end of the main rail, the slide mounted on said switch-rail, the rockshaft provided with a crank-arm pivoted to said slide, the depending operating-lever, and a second arm on the rock-shaft engaging said operating-lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

The combination, with the main and branch rails, of the switch-rail arranged between the same and having one of its ends fiexi-.

bly connected to the end of the main rail, said switch-rail being slotted as described, the slide connected to said switch-rail by bolts passing through the said slots, the rock-shaft provided with a crank-arm pivoted to the slide, the depending operating-lever provided with a slot a notched rack for said lever, and a second arm on the rock-shaft extending through the slot in the said lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOHN BOUCHARD.

Vitn esses:

IRVINE MILLER, CARRIE FEIGEL. 

